Modernising rectal irrigation pathways: advancing clinical decision-making in transanal irrigation

Transanal irrigation (TAI) has become an effective therapy for managing bowel dysfunction, offering patients improved control by allowing them to choose the timing and setting for bowel evacuation. Yet, the wide array of TAI systems currently available on the market can make selecting the most appropriate equipment a challenge. To address this, a consensus review was conducted by a panel of experts in 2018, which led to the development of a manuscript and a ‘decision guide’ booklet ( Emmanuel et al, 2019 ). The guide is there to serve as a resource and an aid to support healthcare professionals in underpinning the right product for their patients when initiating TAI. As with any professional document, a review was necessary to ensure it remains evidence-based and current. In February 2023, a roundtable discussion was held with key opinion leaders to assess and share their perspectives on the guide. This meeting provided an opportunity to refine and adapt the decision guide, as presented in this article.